Charcoal broiler



March 1, 1966 5, sTALEY 3,237,621

CHARCOAL BROILER Filed April 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

SAMUEL J. STALEY ATTORNEY March 1, 1966 5, s E 3,237,621

CHARCOAL BROILER Filed April 22, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

gAHUEL J. STALEY ATTORNEY March 1, 1966 Filed April 22, 1963 S-J.STALEY CHARCOAL BROILER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,237,621 CHARCOAL BROILER Samuel J. Staley, 1864 Edgewood St., Springfield, Mo. Filed Apr. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 274,753 4 Claims. (Cl. 126-25) The present invention relates to an improved charcoal broiler structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved charcoal holding structure for use in broiling and cooking.

A large number of charcoal broilers for use in outdoor broiling and cooking have heretofore been proposed. Such broilers have either been of the permanent installation, semi-portable or portable type. However, the permanent installation and semi-portable type have not been adapted to use in remote locations because of their permanent design or their great bulk. Likewise, portable type broilers have not been suitable for use with permanent or semi-portable type installations, principally due to the fact that their features of portability prevent their use in any but their intended portable condition.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved charcoal broiler for use in outdoor broiling and cooking.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved charcoal holding structure for use in outdoor broiling and cooking.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved charcoal holding structure for use in outdoor broiling and cooking which is adapted for use as a completely portable unit or in conjunction with conventional permanent and semi-portable broiler structures with equal facility.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a charcoal holding structure for use in outdoor broiling and cooking having unique features of portability, ease of filling, adjustability and use in many diverse locations.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded isometric view of the improved charcoal holding structure of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view showing the improved charcoal holding structure of the present invention when used in conjunction with a conventional semi-portable broiler.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view showing the improved charcoal holding structure of the present invention when used as a portable broiler unit.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view showing the improved charcoal holding structure of the present invention when used as a portable cooking unit.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, box member 1 includes side section 3, bottom section 5, and end sections 7. Bottom section 5 extends beyond the edges of end sections 7 and is bent upwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to end sections 7 to form an extension lip 9. Box member 1 is preferably made of metal or any other material resistant to heat and flame. It is obvious that box member 1 may be formed from a single flat piece of metal suitably bent to form side section 3, bottom section 5, with extension lip 9, and end sections 7 and welded or otherwise joined at the juncture of bottom section 5 and end sections 7. Mounted on the outer faces of end sections 7, as by welding or otherwise, are suspension elements 11. Suspension elements 11 are designed to cooperate with and rest on support elements 13 as here- 3,237,521 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 "ice inafter more fully described. Carrying handle 15 is a spring type element adapted to detachably mount on box member 1 through holes 17 in end sections 7. Mounted on end sections 7, also by welding or otherwise, are retaining elements 19 which extend beyond the edges of end sections 7 and cooperate with grill member 21 to hold box member 1 and grill member 21 together. Grill member 21 includes side section 23 and top section 25. Grill member 21 may have a bar type structure as shown or it may be made of heavy wire mesh, expanded metal or other open structures adapted to retain charcoal in the holder but permit air flow therethrough. Extensions 27 protruding from the side edges of side section 23 cooperate with retaining elements 19 to hold grill member 21 in place on box member 1. Extension lip 9 of box member 1 also acts as a stop and aids in retaining grill member 21 in place on box member 1.

FIGURE 2 shows a conventional semi-portable broiler 29 having spit 31 and motor 33 for rotating spit 31. Support elements 13 are positioned across the top opening of broiler 2'9 and two of the charcoal holders of the present invention are suspended from support elements 13 by means of suspension elements 11 (FIGURE 1). By 10- cating suspension elements 11 intermediate the top and bottom of end sections 7 of box member 1 the charcoal holder of the present invention can be constructed so that it can be suspended above the bottom of the fire box of any conventional permanent or semi-portable broiler. Obviously, by providing a plurality of suspension elements, such as 11, spaced between the top and bottom of end sections 7 of box member 1, the charcoal holder of the present invention can be adapted to use in any such conventional broiler and the relationship of the holders to the food on spit 31 can be adjusted.

FIGURE 3 of the drawings illustrates a pair of the charcoal holders of the present invention in use as a portable broiler. The holders of FIGURE 3 also illustrate an alternate form of suspending elements and support elements which are equally adaptable to use with conventional permanent or semi-portable broilers. The suspension elements 35 are open ended tubes welded or otherwise attached to the outer faces of end sections "7 of box member 1. The plurality of suspension elements 35, as shown in FIGURE 3, illustrate the ability to adjust the height of suspension of the charcoal holders above the bottom of the fire box of conventional broilers, as previously mentioned. Removably passing through suspension elements 35 are support elements 37. Threaded into the sides of suspension elements 35 are thumb screws 39 which are adapted to frictionally hold support elements 37 in a fixed position. A conventional food-holding grill 41 may be suspended on support elements 35, as shown, or may be held between the pair of charcoal holders by pressure by simply adjusting said holders toward one another. Also mounted on end sections 7 are suspension elements 43. Suspension elements 43 are of the same structure as suspension elements 35 but are mounted perpendicular to the latter. The use of suspension elements 43 will be more clearly shown by reference to FIGURE 4. When assembled the pair of charcoal holders may be supported on any fireproof base as rocks 45 or in any conventional broiler.

In FIGURE 4, support elements 37 are mounted in suspension elements 43 to permit the use of the charcoal holders in a horizontal position either as a cooking unit, as illustrated or a broiling unit. When used as a cooking unit any suitable container 47 may be placed thereon.

It is clear that the completely enclosed structure of the charcoal holders of the present invention are adapted to ease of filling with charcoal and use as a convenient carrier for charcoal in addition to the other more obvious advantages. It is also obvious that the novel means .3, for suspending and supporting a pair of the charcoal holders have many advantages not heretofore found in broiling structures.

It is obvious from the prior description that other modifications and variations of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention is limited only in accordance with the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. An improved charcoal holder for use in outdoorbroiling and cooking, comprising:

(a) a box member, including, a substantially imperforate side section, a substantially imperforate bottom section and two substantially imperforate end sections forming a box-like structure having an open side and an open top;

(b) said bottom section of said box member having formed thereon an extension lip which extends beyond the free edges of said side sections and is turned upwardly to form an obtuse angle with said edges of said side sections;

(c) a grill member of open mesh structure, including,

-a side section and a top section;

((1) said grill member being adapted to enclose said open side and said open top of said box member; and

(e) holding means for releasably holding said box member and said grill member together to form a closed six-sided box.

2. An improved charcoal holder for use in outdoor broiling and cooking, comprising:

(a) two like charcoal holding units each composed of:

(1) a box member, including, a substantially imperforate side section, a substantially imperforate bottom section and two substantially imperforate end sections forming a box-like structure having an open side and an open top;

(2) said bottom section of said box member having formed thereon an extension lip which extends beyond the free edges of said end sections and is turned upwardly to form an obtuse angle of said edges of said end sections;

(3) a grill member of open mesh structure, in-

cluding, a side section and a top section;

(4) said grill member being adapted to enclose said open side and said open top of said box member;

(5) suspension elements mounted on the outside faces of said end sections; and (6) holding means for releasably holding said box member and said grill member together to form a closed six-sided box; and (b) two elongated support elements adapted to cooperative with said suspension elements and support said charcoal holding units in side-by-side relation to one another. 3. An improved charcoal holder for use in outdoor broiling and cooking, comprising:

(a) two like charcoal holding units each composed of: (1) a box member, including, a substantially imperforate side section, a substantially imperforate bottom section and two substantially imperforate end sections forming a box-like structure having an open side and an open top;

(2) said bottom section of said box member having formed thereon an extension lip which extends beyond the free edges of said end sections and is turned upwardly to form an obtuse angle of said edges of said end sections;

(3) a grill member of open mesh structure, in-

cluding, a side section and a top section;

(4) said .grill member being adapted to enclose said open side and said open top of said box member;

(5) a first set of suspension elements mounted vertically on said end sections of said box member and a second set of suspension elements mounted horizontally on said end sections to permit suspension of said charcoal holding units in sideby-side horizontal and vertical positions as selected; and

( 6) holding means for releasably holding said box member and said grill member together to form a closed six-sided box; and

(b) two elongated support elements adapted to cooperate with said suspension elements and support said charcoal holding units in side-by-side relation to one another.

4. An improved charcoal holder for use in outdoor broiling and cooking, comprising:

(a) a substantially rectangular box member having four substantially imperforate sides and two adjacent open sides;

(b) a generally flat open mesh grill member formed in the shape of an L and adapted to enclose said two open sides of said box member;

(c) said grill member being releasably attached to said box member;

(d) said box member having an extension lip formed along one edge thereof to accommodate one end of said grill member and act as a stop therefor; and

(e) suspension elements on two opposing sides of said box member adapted to accommodate support means and to support said charcoal holder on said support means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner, JAMES W, WESTHAVER, Ea ca m iner 

1. AN IMPROVED CHARCOAL HOLDER FOR USE IN OUTDOOR BROILING AND COOKING, COMPRISING: (A) A BOX MEMBER, INCLUDING, A SUBSTANTIALY IMPERFORATE SIDE SECTION, A SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERFORATE BOTTOM SECTION AND TWO SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERFORATE END SECTIONS FORMING A BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE HAVING AN OPEN SIDE AND AN OPEN TOP; (B) SAID BOTTOM SECTION OF SAID BOX MEMBER HAVING FORMED THEREON AN EXTENSION LIP WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND THE FREE EDGES OF SAID SIDE SECTIONS AND IS TURNED UPWARDLY TO FORM ONE OBTUSE ANGLE WITH SAID EDGES OF SAID SIDE SECTIONS; (C) A GRILL MEMBER OF OPEN MESH STRUCTURE, INCLUDING, A SIDE SECTION AND A TOP SECTION; (D) SAID GRILL MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO ENCLOSE SAID OPEN SIDE AND SAID OPEN TOP OF SAID BOX MEMBER; AND (E) HOLDING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID BOX CLOSED SIX-SIDED BOX. 